MervynS

I believe so, and here’s why:

1. More Organisations Are Hiring Professional Consultants

In recent years there’s been a growing trend for large organisations to hire consultants to meet their needs instead of recruiting staff. This is especially so since the recent recession started in 2008. Here are a few reasons why…

Many companies have shed jobs in an attempt to save money by cutting their wage bill. As they reduced their financial outgoings they quickly discovered their outgoing staff took their valuable skills with them. Consequently, these businesses ended up hiring consultants and freelancers to fill the skills gap created by their own knee-jerk reactions. And guess what? They generally pay consultants and freelancers a much higher rate than their previous employees!

In addition to shedding jobs, some are holding back from hiring permanent staff. Previously, many companies hired staff and provided an extended training period until they got up to speed and their workload grew to fill the day. Companies can’t afford to do that now. They need people who can produce instant results without being ‘carried’ by the employer. The recent trend towards lean working has prompted some to look for consultants and freelancers instead of taking on traditional, salaried staff. They do this because freelance consultants are usually available at short notice, don’t need extensive training, and can produce results from day one.

Linked to the above, other organisations are more hesitant to employ staff because of additional burdens they face. Taking on salaried staff means providing benefits such as expenses, sick pay, holiday pay, maternity pay, paternity pay, time off to care for relatives – and the list goes on. Then there’s the time and cost of the recruitment and selection process. And if they ever want to dismiss a staff member the process can be long-winded, painful and sometimes quite expensive. You can now see why some companies prefer the simplicity of hiring freelance consultants instead.

The world of commerce is becoming more technical and professional. Corporations have to ‘up their game’ to remain competitive and survive. Some businesses just don’t have all the skills they need in-house. And other businesses are too busy making widgets to give time to things they consider to be ‘non-core’ activity. If you have an area of relevant expertise you are needed now more than ever before.

2. Modern Technology Makes It Easier Than Ever To Set Up And Run Your Own Professional Consulting Business

We take for granted what we become familiar with. Have you ever stopped to think about the power available to you through your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone? Today’s technology can empower individuals in ways that weren’t even available to the largest of corporations just a generation ago. And we can benefit from all this at a fraction of the previously cost.

Modern technology can also enable you to do all of the following for free:

• Search online for specific and detailed information.
• Build you own website.
• Collect customers email addresses and automatically send out newsletters and marketing information.
• Interact directly with customers, associates and others through a range of social media channels such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
• Create, store and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Create, edit and share image, audio and video files.
• Hold tele-seminars and video-conferences – yes, even for free!
• Use a range of productivity apps to help you schedule your work, manage your to-do lists and track your time.

This is just a sample of some things you can do with free software. There’s plenty more and it’s getting better all the time. And if you’re willing to pay a small monthly fee or a one-off payment you can access even more.

Modern technology is levelling the playing field. I built my first (basic and ugly) website in Microsoft FrontPage. I then progressed to using Adobe Dreamweaver. As powerful as Dreamweaver is, it takes months to master and days to build a decent site. Then WordPress came along. I can now set up a fully functioning, beautiful, mobile-responsive website without any html or css coding in only a few hours.

Can you see how some of this could help you in your professional consulting business?

3. There’s A Growing Trend For New Businesses To Use Freelance Consultants

Traditional companies have been losing staff. But while unemployment has been rising, so too has the number of new businesses starting up.

Start-ups and small businesses need professional help with things like:

• Business planning.
• Website development.
• Marketing campaigns.
• Social media presence.
• Project planning and management.
• And much more…

Outsourcing has become popular. Many business coaches now advise you to focus on your strengths and outsource the rest.

The logic is that if you’re good at making widgets you should concentrate just on making widgets. Widget-making is the thing that makes you money; all other activity is peripheral and secondary. You shouldn’t get distracted by giving time to other things. Pay someone else to do it. They’re likely to do a better job and do it quicker. You should make best use of your time.

A consequence of following such advice is the trend for businesses to seek out consultants and freelancers they can outsource work to. In the past, they were often limited to working with local agencies based in expensive offices. However, the internet has removed the geographical barrier and today’s computing power and software has eliminated the technological barrier. You’re now likely to be approached by well-matched clients who don’t just live the other side of your country – they may come from the other side of the world.

Another recent development includes freelance work websites such as UpWork.com and Guru.com. Growing at an amazing rate, they contain a breadth of consulting projects for people with specialist skills. Their popularity clearly demonstrates a growing demand for freelance consulting services.

Other reasons why some businesses prefer working with freelance consultants include:

• Freelancers often undercut the pricing of larger agencies because they don’t have significant office overhead costs to pass on to the client.
• Freelancers are usually able to respond more quickly and flexibly than larger companies.
• Business people prefer to deal with the people who actually do the work. They don’t want to liaise through a sales manager or worry that their job will be passed on to the office junior because it will be ‘a good training exercise’.

In Conclusion…

Businesses are still buying professional services. Start-ups are growing at a fast rate. Large employers are seeking freelance consultants to meet their skills gaps. Modern technology enables you to provide quality services in a way previously not possible – often at no or little cost to you.

In some ways, now isn’t just a good time to start a professional consulting business, it’s possibly the best time…

1. As A Professional Consultant You Can Choose What Work You Do

Becoming a professional consultant provides you with choice about what work to do and not do. You don’t have to keep doing work you don’t enjoy. You can focus in on more interesting and personally rewarding work.

If you’re still working for an employer you can usually specialise in a field that plays to your strengths. And if you reach the point where you outgrow your current job, you can pursue new opportunities either as an employed consultant or start up on your own.

When you work for yourself you can enjoy so much more freedom. If you don’t like jobs that clients offer you simply say, “Sorry, I don’t do that type of work.” You can pick and choose. You may say, “I can do A, B and C, but not D or E.” Now, if you’re able to recommend someone else who can do ‘D and E’, or you can agree to do it and then sub-contract it out, your customer will usually be very appreciative.

Becoming a professional consultant can give you the opportunity to focus on work which helps to develop your skills. This suits those who enjoy a fresh challenge and view consulting work as a form of self-expression.

Alternatively, you could choose to offer just one service so you can avoid having to learn lots of new technology or keep up with the latest trends. This frees up your mind and time for other things you are more interested in.

You could use professional consulting as a way to develop new skills or start an entirely new career. Most employers demand years of proven experience in an area before they would think of employing you. As a consultant, there are ways you can start from scratch and learn as you go. Sure, there may be a few challenges when you first start out – but it’s possible.

2. You Can Choose Who You Work With When You Become A Professional Consultant

Assuming you choose to start your own professional consulting business, you will have no boss to answer to. You are the boss! You never have to answer to anyone else for the rest of your life. You can take time off when you want and you don’t have to strive to hit unreasonable targets in the hope that you might be given a 2% pay rise.

Not only can you eradicate your boss, you can also dispense with unpleasant colleagues. You can escape from dealing with office politics, power struggles and favouritism. You can put an end to the psychological clutter that others create and enjoy a more peaceful life. You choose where you work and who you work with.

Have you ever put up with complaining customers? You don’t have to any more. You can now choose your customers too! If you don’t want to work with certain customers or industry sectors, simple, you don’t.

The people you spend time with significantly affect your life. Becoming a professional consultant gives you the opportunity to choose who you spend your time with. If I’d seriously thought about that when I was younger I might have become a consultant sooner than I did.

3. You Can Fit Your Work Around Your Family Or Lifestyle As A Professional Consultant

For some, working a steady 9-to-5 job five days each week just doesn’t fit, especially if you have other priorities in life.

Some people start their consulting business when they start families so they can fit work around their young children. When they’re very small they may do work in short bursts when the children are asleep or at nursery. As they grow, many fit work into the time between school runs.

I’ve also met some who have chosen a home-based self-employed route because it enables them to care for and support aging parents or other relatives. Self-employed consulting can give you the flexibility to be available to those you love at a time in life when they need you most.

You can also choose a work-life balance and work patterns to fit your preferred lifestyle. Why not take an afternoon off to go to the beach when it’s sunny, go skiing when the snow’s good, or be there when your children take part in school sports days?

Some consultants choose seasonal work patterns, doing most of their work in winter and freeing up time for more holidays in summer. It’s possible to build a business around your chosen lifestyle; you don’t have to fit life around the demands of your work.

4. You Can Make More Money As A Professional Consultant

Consultancy is known for being well-paid. Even consultants who work for large consultancy firms earn a higher than average salary.

Self-employed consultants often charge a ‘day rate’ for their services. This can range from a few hundred pounds (or dollars) per day to a few thousand. By landing a good project some consultants can earn as much in a month as most people do in a year.

Then there are some consultants who choose to only work ‘part-time’. Popular reasons for doing so include:

• To ‘test’ out their business idea before committing to it full-time.
• To be available to care for children or relatives.
• To top up retirement income or stay active by continuing to do work they enjoy.

When you approach it right, you can earn more by going self-employed than you ever would if you remained as an employee. You can then buy not just the things you need but also the things you want in life.

5. You Take Control Of Your Future As A Professional Consultant

By becoming a professional consultant you’re saying “I’m taking control of my future”. You’ll be developing highly valued and sought-after skills. Your destiny won’t be dependent upon just one employer.

You’ll feel empowered as you make decisions and set your own course in life. This is a big enough reason for some all by itself. If you like the freedom and autonomy to make your own decisions then you need to think seriously about this.

Contrary to what some people think, becoming a self-employed consultant can provide you with more ‘job security’. No-one can fire you. No-one can downsize you or make you redundant. No-one can force you to relocate to another part of the country. Remember, you’re the boss.

As a self-employed consultant you’re normally able to respond more quickly to market changes than larger companies. If you spot an opportunity or want to change track and take your business in a new direction you can – instantly. You don’t have to ask permission or complete a corporate business plan and wait for a committee to meet. Instead, you just get on and do it.

In Conclusion…

I’ve just given you five good reasons for becoming a professional consultant – but there are more. You can choose what work you want to do, who to work with and when to work. You can also make more money and take back control of your future.

Some of these reasons will be more appealing than others. However, you only need one good reason to make the jump and start your new consulting career now. Which one appeals to you most?

If you’re still thinking about professional consulting I’d encourage you to invest time in research. Dig a little deeper and learn more. See how it can work out for you. Why not read the next blog post in this series which answers the following question: “Is Now A Good Time To Become A Professional Consultant?”